pickens writes: Fox News reports that an Italian aircraft interiors company is proposing a new semi-standing 'seating' configuration that airlines could use to create a 'basic' class to maximize passenger count and profits, while lowering ticket prices. The company, Aviointeriors, says that its SkyRider chairs could be stacked together with only 23 inches of legroom between them — compared to the 31 inch minimum now typically found in coach. Earlier this year, Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Irish budget airline Ryanair, said that he was considering adding similar seats and also considering creating a true standing room area. Ryan says that the standing room area would use handrails like those found on a train or bus. "The argument against it is that if there’s ever a crash, people will be injured," says O'Leary. "If there's ever a crash, the people in the sit-down seats will be injured, too."

nightcats writes: In a bad economy, publishers often bring the axe down on editors and proofreaders first. And every so often, it costs them big time. But at least the rest of us get to laugh. The opening paragraph of this BBC story says it all:

An Australian publisher has had to pulp and reprint a cook-book after one recipe listed "salt and freshly ground black people" instead of black pepper.